Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have a combined rating of 60 percent, but the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether they preclude securing and following substantial gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, as additional development is needed to obtain employment and educational information.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and opinions are needed to address the Veteran's lung disease, hearing loss, and sinus disability claims due to incomplete medical records and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and for an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's combined disability rating prior to July 5, 2011 did not meet the schedular threshold for a TDIU. The case is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, as well as their impact on employment.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss. The case is now being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other conditions, renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's GERD is denied as not being related to his service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's hearing impairment was incurred during his military service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives regarding a VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying stressor information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 6, 2020 and a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss from February 6, 2020. The evidence did not show audiometric testing results that would warrant a compensable rating prior to February 6, 2020, or a rating in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically whether it is related to service exposure and acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral pes planus have been granted.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for a heart condition (secondary to exposure), left knee condition (secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus), right knee condition (secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus), and back condition with back surgery (secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus and/or alleged bilateral knee disorders) have been remanded.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its February 2019 remand and thus the case must be returned for further development.